Emma Martin - International Women's Day

For International Women's day, we wanted to shine a light on some of the amazing women who work for Johnsons Workwear and find out a little more about them.

Meet Production Manager Emma Martin who works in our Hadleigh plant:

Talk us through an average day in your life:

I wake up at 4.45am, grab a coffee and head into work. I say good morning to my team and get the day off to a good start.
I check where we are and where we are heading, do walk rounds and check in with other departments.
As a Production Manager I ensure we keep everything going out on time, including covering breaks etc. when needed.
I love working with my team so it’s important to me to spread my time evenly and listen to ideas etc.
At the end of the day I head back to the car for the drive home to my husband, two daughters and the dog - whoever is in first! 

What did you want to be when you were younger?

I wanted to be a nurse, until I watched an operation on the TV…all that blood put me right off!!


What is it like being a woman in your job/department?

It is great being a woman working in Production. What I love most is no-one ever says you can’t learn that because you’re a girl. If you want to learn it, you can.


What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing young girls and women today?

I think social media can have a negative impact on young girls and women striving for perfection. I also think that there are some industries who are not as open to women joining their workforce as others, and it could be a challenge to break into these areas.


What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell myself not to worry too much about not knowing what I wanted to do. Sometimes falling into something and loving it is enough. That classic saying, 'what will be, will be'.


What changes would you like to see in the future for women?

I would like to see the struggle for equal pay resolved. The job is the job, the pay is the pay - regardless of your gender.


Who is your biggest female inspiration in life?

I am very lucky to have several strong women in my family who have always set a great example. I would say my Nan; she was a single mum in the 60’s who provided for her three children in every sense, whilst also holding down three jobs and training to be a nurse. Just shows if you are determined enough you can achieve anything.


What makes you proud to be a woman?

I love that women have become so independent and work hard to achieve what they want.